The Hunting Realm's Heart – Ryūketsu, The Scarlet Capital
- A market street where gravity is optional—stalls float mid-air, vendors haggling over shimmering beast cores and enchanted blades. Children leap between rooftops with effortless grace, their laughter trailing like wind chimes.
- A group of kids play "Hunter vs. Kaimon" (a game where one child acts as the monster) until an elder smacks them with a broom for "disturbing the peace."
The market is a kaleidoscope of colors—spices, silks, armor, and tools—all for sale in a city that seems more like a floating dream than reality.
Near the center stands an enormous stone palace, its crimson granite walls etched with images of beasts that dance in the sunlight. And surrounding it all—the towering walls that protect not only the city itself but the city's hidden secret.
The Crimson Market - Ryūketsu's Beating Heart
The streets hum with life as merchants hawk their wares from floating stalls, their goods defying gravity in mid-air. A burly vendor tosses a glowing beast core to a customer—only for a stray child to leap and snatch it mid-flight with practiced ease before landing on the next rooftop over.
"Hah! Old man Tsuru, you're losing your touch!" the kid taunts before vanishing into the labyrinth of vermilion bridges and golden roofs.
Somewhere below, two teens spar using blunted training swords—their movements sharp despite their laughter ringing through the alleyways like chimes caught in a storm. One slips up; his blade gets knocked clean out of his grip—but instead of falling downward… it drifts lazily upwards, glinting as it catches firelight from nearby lanterns that burn without oil or wick.
A City That Hunts Gods
High above the vibrant streets, the Palace of Ryūketsu rises like a monolith against the star-studded sky. Its crimson granite walls bear scars from countless battles—yet it remains unscathed, a silent sentry that guards the city and its hidden secret.
On the opposite end of the city, a group of kids play "Hunter vs. Kaimon"—a game where one child embodies the role of the fearsome monsters that plague the Hunting Realm. But their mock battle is soon interrupted by the stern voice of an elderly warrior:
"Enough! You little hunters will attract the—"
"A hunter is meant to be silent, like the night. Behave like fools again and I shall have words with your parents."
The kids groan in frustration before sulking back to their homes, muttering about the joyless old warrior who "never lets them have fun anymore." As they leave, a voice calls out sharply from behind them…
"So you're the brats whose racket I could hear three blocks away?"
A girl leans against the railing with casual ease, her vermilion kimono edged with silver threads that glimmer like blood in the evening light. Her black hair is tied in a high ponytail decorated with a single vermilion gem that glimmers like a falling star. Her eyes are the color of polished steel—sharp and calculating, yet prideful in their intensity.
"We were just having a little fun." One of the kids pipes up, pouting. "But that old guy yelled at us."
The girl snorts. "The old man only yelled because you kids were making enough noise to wake the dead."
A few of the kids shuffle their feet sheepishly, knowing they'd been caught. But others keep sulking. "Tch. He's so grumpy all the time."
One of the younger kids suddenly gasps, pointing at her waist.
"Wait—that symbol! You're one of the Twelve Sword Born Apostles!"
Embroidered on the sash of her kimono is a single, silver thread insignia: A Gold crescent moon cradling a Silver blade.
The mark of an Apostle.
"Whoa—no way! You're Shinso-senpai!" the child exclaims, hopping in excitement. The other kids follow the first's example and chorus out her name like an army of starry-eyed fans.
Shinso rolls her eyes as a playful smirk creeps across her face. "Jeez, you make it sound like I'm some sort of celebrity."
Despite her exasperated tone, Shinso clearly enjoys the attention. Her smirk grows more amused with each name-call and her hands come to rest against her hips, her weight shifting to one leg.
"Alright, alright, settle down, you little hellions. You'll make my head swell with all this praise." She teases lightly, her eyes crinkling with quiet mirth.
The kids settle down, though several continue to give her looks as if she's some sort of legendary icon. One particularly bold child steps to the front of the group, still eyeing Shinso with admiration.
"Shinso-senpai," he starts, his small voice carrying an edge of eagerness. "Are the rumors true?"
Shinso gives the child a sidelong glance. "Depends on which rumor you're talking about, kiddo." She says dryly.
But her eyes are warm with amused indulgence. This group of children seemed... less obnoxious than the usual bunch. And something about their genuine excitement was almost endearing.
The child points a finger at the silvered blade Shinso carries on her hip.
"That sword," he says, clearly in awe. "It glows with this… this aura. Like..." he scrambles to find the right words.
Shinso's smirk becomes a soft smile as she watches the child struggling to articulate himself. She decides to save him from further embarrassment and interrupts.
"Like it contains its own soul, yes?"
Shinso nods, watching the excitement in the kid's eyes grow tenfold. "That's right. Every sword in the Realm has what we call a 'Kizugami'."
She taps the hilt of her blade gently. "Each Kizugami carries its own consciousness, its own personality."
Shinso's smile turns more mischievous. "And if you're skilled enough..." she adds with a wink, "you might even become partners with one."
"There you are!"
A feminine voice rings out from behind Shinso, causing the children to jump in surprise. Shinso, however, simply turns with an amused grin.
"About time you showed up," she says, raising an eyebrow at the new arrival. "I was starting to get bored."
"Bored. Right," the newcomer replies in a dry tone. "I'm sure chatting to a bunch of noisy kids is the highlight of your day."
She looks over the gaggle of children still standing there, their eyes wide as saucers as they take in this new person. It was obvious they thought Shinso was the coolest person ever.
But this newcomer looked even cooler.
She was tall and slender. Her long indigo hair was tied tightly into a single braid. And her silver eyes... Those eyes were like pure magic.
Suzushiro's kimono dons is an intricately decorated masterpiece of rich crimson silks. Deep red cranes dance amidst swirling clouds against its flowing folds, giving the garment a sense of graceful motion. Golden thread embroidery adds intricate detail, emphasizing each crane with delicate precision.
At her breast, embroidered golden plum blossoms bloom across the material, their elegant petals edged with glimmering silver-white threads that catch the light as she moves.
"S-Suzushiro-sama!"
Another kid yells, practically vibrating with excitement.
The newcomer, Suzushiro, merely smirks and raises a single hand in greeting. "That's me," she confirms lazily. "Now scram before Shinso decides to rope you into another one of her 'training exercises.' Trust me—you don't want that."
Shinso gasps dramatically, clutching her chest as if wounded. "You make it sound like I torture them!"
Suzushiro snorts but doesn't dignify that with an answer—the kids don't seem to notice anyway; they're too busy staring at Suzushiro in open awe now too.
Ryūketsu's Grand Promenade
Shinso and Suzushiro stroll down the main avenue, the air thick with the aroma of sizzling meats, roasted spices, and sweet confections from floating food stalls. Above them, paper lanterns shaped like mythic beasts sway gently in a breeze that shouldn't exist—yet does anyway.
To their right stands a row of towering statues—past hunters immortalized in polished obsidian. Some wield swords longer than they are tall; others are depicted mid-leap, locked in eternal combat against unseen foes. A single plaque at each base reads: "Hunters Who Became Legends."
Shinso slows as they pass one particular statue—a man with wild eyes and twin blades crossed over his chest like a warning. "Kurosaki," she murmurs fondly before moving on.
Suzushiro watches her with an amused smirk before gesturing ahead toward a sprawling garden where golden petals fall endlessly from trees that seem to bloom for no reason at all.
The Gardens of Knowing
- Trees stretch unnaturally tall here; their bark is black but their leaves shimmer as though dipped in liquid gold.
- The ground beneath them isn't grass or dirt… its polished glass reflecting back distorted glimpses of memories long past.
- At its center sits an enormous fountain carved into the shape of three intertwined beasts—each eternally biting another's tail while water flows around them like time itself.
Suzushiro leans against one such tree lazily tossing one coin after another into those swirling waters below without bothering to watch where they land... But Shinso pauses by edge watching ripples expand outward until disappearing entirely underfoot...
Neither says anything for a moment letting weight settle between them comfortably...
Until finally breaking quietude Suzushiro asks simply yet pointedly:
"You ever wonder if we'll end up like Kurosaki someday? Frozen forever just because we were reckless enough to be great?"
Shinso doesn't answer immediately staring instead past gardens toward palace looming distance—
But when she does speak there's something unreadable beneath her tone:
_"Only way I'm getting statue made me is if it looks good..."_
Suzushiro's gaze drifts upward, her silver eyes reflecting the golden leaves drifting down around them. The silence stretches—long enough that Shinso thinks she might not answer at all.
But then, quietly:
"I wonder if Yua's alright out there." Her voice is softer than usual, almost fragile in the stillness of the garden. "Stuck in some human world with no idea how any of this works..."
She doesn't say it aloud, but Shinso knows what Suzushiro really means:
(...If she's safe.)
Shinso exhales sharply through her nose before nudging Suzushiro with an elbow—forcing lightness back into the moment whether Suzushiro wants it or not.
"Oh please," she scoffs dramatically (if only to mask own concern). That girl could survive falling into hell itself and still come out swinging."
The Path of Whispering Leaves
Their laughter fades into the rustle of ancient trees as they step beyond Ryūketsu's gates and into the forest. The air here is thick with the scent of crushed pine and damp earth—each footstep muffled by moss so lush it feels like walking on clouds. Above them, colossal trees twist toward a sky stained violet by twilight, their bark etched with glowing runes that pulse faintly like distant heartbeats.
Shinso kicks a pebble down the winding path, watching it vanish into a patch of bioluminescent mushrooms. "Remember when Yua tried to eat those?" she snorts.
Suzushiro grimaces at the memory—the ensuing stomachache had been legendary. "Idiot thought they were 'glowy candy.'" She mimics Yua's voice perfectly, earning another laugh from Shinso as fireflies begin to wink awake around them like scattered stars.
Memories in Moonlight
(Flashback – Younger Yua sitting cross-legged under these same trees pouting at her brother Kichiro)
Kichiro (deadpan): "No."
Yua (whining): "But Shizuka-sama lets her apprentices eat weird stuff alllll tiiiime!"
Kichiro (pinching bridge of nose): "Shizuka also once drank molten steel for fun." (Beat.) "Do you want to be Shizuka?"
Yua (immediately brightening): "...Yes?"
Back in the present time...
Suzushiro sighs but can't quite hide her smile either; even now missing stubborn little sister who somehow managed to make everyone worry despite being oceans away...
Then suddenly—her fingers brush against something carved into one tree trunk nearby: initials + crude drawing sword left behind years ago during one their many adventures together through woods just like these ones...
Her expression flickers between fondness melancholy before settling on quiet resolve instead turning back toward city lights shimmering far-off distance:
"C'mon," she says, finally nudging Shinso along too now (because dwelling won't bring anyone home faster) — yet neither mentions how much louder the world feels without certain loudmouths around anymore...
SERENIA, HUMAN REALM
Ryo's boots scuff against the cobblestones as he walks down Serenia's main avenue, hands stuffed lazily in his pockets. The air smells of freshly baked bread and the salt-tang of the nearby docks—a far cry from Ryūketsu's gravity-defying splendor.
Yua matches his stride, her eyes scanning storefronts with quiet curiosity. (How do humans live without floating markets? Without Kizugami singing in their blood?) The thought is fleeting but heavy all the same.
Ryo notices her staring at a pastry display and smirks. "Hungry?" He nods toward a stall selling honey-drizzled buns. "Those are basically sugar with extra sugar."
Yua blinks—then scowls when she realizes he's teasing her like some easily distracted child... But before she can retort—
A crash echoes down the street followed by shouting:
"THIEF! STOP HIM!"
Both whip around to see a young boy sprinting down the avenue, clutching a stolen purse. A shopkeeper shouts and gives chase, but the boy darts effortlessly through the crowded streets dodging shopkeepers with fluid grace. His target is obvious—the alleyways that lead directly out of town.
Ryo grins, eyes glittering. "He's good," he murmurs appreciatively as he watches the boy twist like smoke around pursuers.
Yua frowns, less impressed. "He's stealing."
Ryo's expression darkens. "I wasn't going to use my energy."
Yua levels a look at him. "Then how were you planning on keeping up?"
He looks almost sheepish. "I thought I could parkour. Like in those action movies."
Yua arches a single brow. "You'd break your neck, you idiot."
The Boy is clotheslined by another kid who was waiting for him.
They watch in silence as the boy lands face first, dazed. The shopkeeper finally catches up, grabs him by the collar, and scolds him loudly.
"Stealing!" she yells, shaking him like a ragdoll. "Didn't your mother teach you better?!"
The boy stammers an apology, sheepish now that he's been caught. "Was just hungry," he mumbles.
Ryo's gaze drifts toward the kid who stopped the thief. He's standing off to the side, expression smug and self-satisfied.
Ryo scoffs at the sight of him. "Not sure who's more annoying," he muses aloud. "Kid who steals or kid who can't mind his own business."
Yua flicks his arm chastising. "Be nice."
(The kid suddenly locks eyes with Ryo—and grins, sharp as a blade. His name is Kyou Ren, and his smirk promises trouble.)
KYOU REN
- Silver hair that seems to absorb light rather than reflect it.
- Eyes like fractured ice—cold but endlessly calculating.
- Wears a black longcoat lined with hidden throwing daggers (just in case).
"Problem?" Kyou calls out, tilting his head mockingly at Ryo's stare. "Or do you just like my face?"
Ryo's fingers twitch at his side—not in fear, but anticipation. Something about this guy sets his teeth on edge in the best possible way...
Yua sighs between them: "...Oh great. Another one."
Ryo tightens his grip on Yua's arm, dragging her away before she can engage further. "Nope. We're leaving," he mutters under his breath, shooting Kyou a final glare over his shoulder.
Kyou just laughs—short and sharp—before turning on his heel and vanishing into the crowd like smoke.
Yua yanks her arm free with an irritated huff as soon as they round the corner. "What was that about?" she demands, scowling up at him.
Ryo runs a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply through gritted teeth. "That guy? Trouble wrapped in arrogance." He jerks his chin toward where Kyou disappeared. "And we don't need more of either right now."
Yua opens her mouth to argue—then stops when she catches the flicker of something unreadable in Ryo's expression: not fear… but recognition? Like he'd seen Kyou somewhere before? But before she can ask—he's already striding ahead again without another word... Leaving only one thought burning between them unanswered:
(Who exactly was that silver-haired bastard?)
Yua's fist catches him in the jaw. "Ow!" he yelps, rubbing his face. "What the hell was that for??"
"For assuming you can drag me around all the time," Yua snaps. "I'm not some pet you can just grab!"
Ryo holds up both hands appeasing. "Fine, fine! Won't happen again, Your Highness!"
Yua smacks his arm in response. "Shut up!"
Yua stomps off, her boots hitting the pavement with enough force to crack stone.
Ryo scrambles after her, wincing as he rubs his sore jaw. "H-hey! Wait up, you crazy—!"
But Yua doesn't slow down. If anything, she walks faster.
And just like that—cuts to black on Ryo's despairing scream:
"DAMN IT, YUA—!"
🌀 End Of Chapter Twenty Four